The Nation's Premier Civil and Human Rights Coalition

Ward Connerly's Anti-Equal Opportunity Efforts

Ward Connerly, a California businessman and former University of California regent, has tried to enact ballot initiatives in various states to eliminate equal opportunity initiatives in higher education, employment, and contracting. Connerly is president of the anti-equal opportunity American Civil Rights Institute.

2008 Initiatives (Colorado, Nebraska, Arizona, Oklahoma, Missouri)

Connerly tried to pass anti-equal opportunity ballot initiatives in five states in 2008 – Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma.

In November 2008, voters in Colorado rejected Amendment 46 (49 percent - 51 percent), becoming the first state to vote down a Connerly anti-equal opportunity ballot initiative. Connerly's initiatives failed to make the ballot in Arizona, Missouri, and Oklahoma.

Michigan Civil Rights Initiative (Proposal 2)

The Michigan Civil Rights Initiative (MCRI), also called Proposal 2, was a ballot initiative that passed on November 7, 2006. The proposal became law on December 22, 2006. Proposal 2 bans "the use of affirmative action programs that give preferential treatment" in state contracting, employment, and higher education.

California Proposition 209

On November 5, 1996 California voters approved an initiative amending the State Constitution's Article 1, Sec. 31, to prohibit "preferential treatment" based on "race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin" by the State or any of its subdivisions or in strumentalities in employment, education or contracting programs.